Ten to stage Family Feud revival

1 June 2014

Family Feud, the classic game show format, is set for a revival on Network Ten.

While the format revival is not a huge surprise — it had been circulating around the industry rumour mill for some time — the choice of host is an unlikely one. Former Sunrise weatherman and Seven Network host Grant Denyer (pictured) has signed on for the new show.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that Denyer’s contract with Seven, where he had previously hosted Australia’s Got Talent, It Takes Two, Slideshow and Million Dollar Minute and appeared as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars, expired last week and he was offered the Ten role via his former Seven Network boss Peter Meakin, now news director at Ten.

Prior to joining Seven Denyer had been a presenter for Ten’s motor sports coverage.

The new Family Feud is expected to be taped in Melbourne and be screened in the 6.00pm timeslot — up against top rating news bulletins on Seven and Nine. Ten has struggled in the 6.00pm timeslot for years, in particular since its ill-fated current affairs venture with George Negus in 2011. Recent repeats of The Simpsons and Modern Family in the timeslot have failed to give the network any ratings joy.

Ten has also tried a number of game show formats in the 6.00pm timeslot over the years — including Jeopardy (1993) with Tony Barber,Battle Of The Sexes (1998) with Ed Phillips and dating show Taken Out (2008).

Family Feud first appeared on Australian TV in 1977. Tony Barber hosted the first version (pictured), produced by Reg Grundy Organisation at TVW7 in Perth. When the program was bought for screening by Nine in Sydney and Melbourne production shifted to Melbourne’s GTV9 in 1979. Daryl Somers took over as host in 1980 after Barber began his long stint hosting Sale Of The Century. Somers handed over to Sandy Scott for the show’s final year in 1984.

The format was revived by the Seven Network in 1989 with host Rob Brough and later John Deeks. It continued through to 1996. As well as the weekday series Seven also had success with a celebrity version of the show on Saturday nights.

Nine revisited Family Feud again in 2006 when it launched as Bert’s Family Feud, hosted by Bert Newton, marking his return to the network after 20 years. Bert’s Family Feud struggled up against Seven’s popular Deal Or No Deal but continued until mid-2007. Despite its low ratings Newton still managed to score a Gold Logie nomination.